On The Bench: An FSU football podcast network

Florida State picked up a commitment from high-end three-star defender Byron Turner on Thursday.

Dubbed the “BoogieMan”, Turner was a pleasant surprise for the ‘Noles.

The crew at On The Bench explains why you should be excited about the commitment and what’s next on FSU’s defensive end board in the latest episode. Plus we dive into the top end of FSU’s roster to complete the remainder of our 40 Most Important countdown.

Chubba Purdy could be the quarterback of the future for Florida State.

Depending on how things shake out, he could also be the QB of the present.

Purdy, the four-star signal caller out of Arizona, was a major get for Mike Norvell shortly after he arrived at FSU. The man who broke Purdy’s commitment and has covered the blue-chip prospect -- as well his brother and Iowa State standout Brock Purdy -- is Brad Cesmat. The CEO of 360SportsAZ.com and the host of The Brad Cesmat Show, Cesmat has a wealth of knowledge on all things Purdy.

Cesmat joins On The Bench to discuss Purdy’s recruitment, his gutsy moments as a player, his competitive mindset and more. Plus Cesmat shares some insights into Norvell’s ascension as an offensive coordinator at Arizona State.

The latest episode of On The Bench goes over a variety of topics on the recruiting trail, including Florida State’s pursuit of priority positions like offensive tackle and defensive end. 

We also have Nee weigh in on scheduling options and the hire made atop Seminole Boosters INC. Plus Newberg gives us the background involving Greg Frey and his lawsuit against Florida State Athletics Association.

Florida State is in the mix for a couple of elite offensive linemen -- Terrence Ferguson and Amarius Mims -- who are closing in on decisions.

Newberg gives you the latest on where FSU stands for the pair of Georgia prospects in the latest episode of On The Bench. Plus Newberg and Sonnone go over the freshmen we expect to play this season, why we miss Nee this week and more.

Florida State defensive coordinator Adam Fuller enjoyed a successful season at Memphis before joining the Seminoles.

Fuller helped turn around a Tigers defense that had been a weakness for years, with his schemes and philosophies playing a major role in getting the team to win the AAC title.

GoTigers247 beat writer Christian Fowler joins On The Bench to go over Fuller’s scheme, his energetic demeanor and how he maximized the most out of his talent.

Jimbo Fisher developed a reputation as a “quarterback whisperer” during his heyday at Florida State.

Three consecutive starters -- Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel and Jameis Winston -- turned into first-round draft picks. So with this production came interest from blue-chip quarterbacks across the country who hoped Fisher could mold them into a first-rounder as well.

This led to a parade of ultra-talented quarterbacks coming to Tallahassee during the summer to either meet or throw for Fisher. At its peak, the Jimbo Fisher Camp was playing host to multiple draft picks or blue-chip quarterbacks each summer...and that’s where On The Bench’s Camp Memories Series picks up. Josh Newberg and Bud Elliott of 247Sports sit down with Brendan Sonnone to go over the quarterback talent that came to Tallahassee in the mid 2010s, and how some developments drastically changed the outlook of the FSU program.

On The Bench continues its Camp Memories series with a look at The Golden Age of Jimbo Fisher Camps.

Fisher made evaluation-based camps a priority when he took over as the Florida State head coach, which is where our series picks up. Josh Newberg is joined by Chris Nee and Corey Dowlar to recall some of the epic names who camped at FSU in 2010, 2011 and 2012 when Jimbo started to get things rolling.

From Mario Edwards Jr. flips to unearthing gems like Devonta Freeman, we relive the glory years of the Jimbo Camps.

Florida State recently received an unofficial visit from five-star offensive tackle Tristan Leigh.

 And another five-star visitor -- Amarius Mims -- is expected soon.

 On The Bench has the latest details on these developments, and what they mean symbolically as FSU tries to revamp its line. Plus, OTB breaks down 20-11 on our list of FSU’s 40 Most Important Players of 2020.

The soap opera that is recruiting tends to hit its peak around National Signing Day, but the groundwork for the fireworks is set during the dog days of summer.

 Prospect camps are ingrained in the fabric of recruiting, often setting the stage for dramatic arrivals, breakout performers and major developments that define a recruitment. This has been the case for more than a decade now, which is where On The Bench’s Camp Memories series begins.

 The first episode in the series features Newberg along with two veterans of the scouting world and FSU recruiting camps: Charles Fishbein of Elite Scouting Services and Dwyer High head coach McKinley Rolle. The three discuss the origins of the Seminoles Showtime camps and how they helped create buzz at FSU, and how Jimbo Fisher changed the camp tactics after he took over as head coach. This is a must-listen for fans of FSU recruiting.

Florida State is expanding its recruiting board at defensive end, which is arguably atop the most important positions in the 2021 cycle.

The crew at Noles247 goes over the recent offers and reasons for casting a wider net at DE in the latest episode of On The Bench.

Plus we go over the middle of FSU's roster and what to take away from our rankings of the 40 Most Important Players.